Game apparatus for amusement purposes



March 16, 1937. c w L 2,074,207

GAME APPARATUS FOR AMUSEMENT PURPOSES Filed Dec. 19, 1955- 2Sheets-Sheet 1 26 J: i fixacewelz March 16, 1937. J. A. BRACEWELL I2,074,207

GAME APPARATUS FOR AMUSEMENT PURPOSES Filed Dec. 19, 1935 a 2sheets-sheet 2 Patented Mar. 16, 1937 UNITED STATES GAME APPARATUS FORAMUSEMENT PURPosEs James A. Bracewell, Tulsa, Okla.

Application December 19, 1935, Serial No. 55,272

13 Claims.

This invention is for a game apparatus for amusement purposes and isparticularly adapted to the playing of various card games.

It is a particular object of this invention to provide a machine formechanically performing certain functions which are ordinarily manuallyperformed in playing various card games.

It is a particular object of this invention to provide an apparatus forplaying card games which will assure uniform shuffling of the cards orcard substitutes and to present to the view of the players, variouscombinations of cards more nearly in keeping with the mathematicalpossibilities for the presentation of such combinations and to thusheighten the interest of the players in the particular game beingplayed.

Another object of this invention is to provide means for retainingcertain portions of card combinations and for replacing undesiredportions with new portions to thereby produce new combinations in thesame play period.

Still another important object of this invention is to provide, as asubstitute for a standard deck of playing cards, a quantity of cubes,balls or pellets of any desired shape, equal in number to the number ofcards in a standard deck of playing cards, and each of which is markedto correspond with a different one of the cards of a standard deck ofplaying cards.

Further object and advantages of my new invention will become apparentfrom the following description when read in conjunction with theattached drawings which illustrate, more or less diagrammatically, oneof the preferred forms of my apparatus.

Fig. 1 is a front elevation partly broken away, of my improvedapparatus; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view partly in elevation takenon the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a top plan view of a shifting barforming part of the apparatus; Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of anexpelling bar forming part of the apparatus.

Referring to the drawings, a drum or cage I is fixedly mounted on ahorizontal shaft 2 which is adapted to be rotated within bearings Ia and3b which are supported by the walls of a casing 4 which completelyencloses the drum I and the major portion of the game mechanism exceptfor a frontal portion which is cut away to provide a view of thatportion of the drum which reveals the card combinations to the playersas will be later described. A portion of the surface of the drum l isextended to form a longitudinally extending pocket which is divided intoa series of stalls, slots or cells 5 by means of vertical partitions 5cooperating with a radial shelf 1. A handle 8, preferably locatedoutside the casing 4, is utilized to actuate the shaft 2 to effectrotation of the drum I. The handle 8 may be connected to the shaft 2 byany conventional mechanism, which, however, is not shown in the drawingsas such mechanisms are well known to those skilled in the art. Theoperation of handle 8 may be coin-controlled or not as may be desiredand mechanism for such control is also not illustrated as they are alsowell known in the art. A ratchet wheel 9 surrounding shaft 2 and fixedlyattached to drum I cooperates with a pawl I0, mounted on casing 4, tolimit the direction of rotation of drum I to a clockwise direction. Astop II mounted at one side of drum I cooperates with a handoperated rodI2 to bring the drum I to a stop ata point in its rotation where theslots 5 will be visible to the players through the opening in the casing4. A spring I3 cooperates with the rod I2 and the wall of easing 4 tohold the rod I2 in the position required to always bring the drum I to astop at the visible position for the slots 5 but permits the rod I2 tobe temporarily withdrawn whenever it is desired to release the drum Ifor further rotation.

Within the drum I there are placed a group of playing elements or diceI4 which are preferably cubical in form but which may be balls,cylinders or any other desired shape. In the preferred form of myinvention the number of these cubes is equal to the number of cards in astandard deck of playing cards, such as a bridge or whist deck, and eachof the elements I 4 is marked to correspond with a different one of thecards of such a deck. The movement of the elements I4 within the drum Iare in no wise hindered except that they are more or less violentlyagitated during the rotation of the drum I by means of baflies I5 whichare mounted within drum I at spaced points therein so that as the drum Iis rotated the playing elements I A will be sharply. tumbled aboutthereby. It should be noted that the speed of rotation of drum I is socontrolled by the mechanism actuating the shaft 2 to maintain the speedsuch that there will be insufficient centrifugal force developed tothrow the elements It tightly against the inner surface of the drum I.

Without reference to the other important features of my invention, theoperation of the game consists simply in rotating drum I in a clockwisedirection by operation of handle 8 which cooperates with shaft 2 toproduce the desired rotation, controlled, of course, as to direction bythe operation of ratchet 9 and pawl III. During the rotation of drum I,the playing elements I4 are violently agitated by the assistance of thebaffles I5 and the aforementioned shufiiing effectively accomplished.When the slots 5 reach the low point of rotation of drum I a number ofthe playing elements I4 will drop into the corresponding number of slots5, the slots 5 being of such depth as to permit reception of only asingle one of elements I4. The elements I4 will be retained in slots 5until said slots will have reached a substantially horizontal positionat which point the slots and their contents will be visible to theplayers through the registering opening in the casing 4. That portion ofthe surface of drum I which covers slots 5 will preferably beconstructed of transparent material which will thus render the elementsI4 contained in the slots 5 visible to the players, and the particularcombination of cards may thus be read by the players. The rod I2, whichat this point will cooperate with stop II to hold drum I in position forthe contents of slots 5 to be read, will now be withdrawn from contactwith stop I I and rotation of drum I may then be continued by againpulling handle 8 and when slots 5 have reached the high point ofrotation of drum I they will discharge their contained elements I4 whichwill then be returned to the main group of elements I4 within drum I tobe again re-shufiled before completion of that particular rotation ofdrum I. In this manner any number of successive combinations of cardsmay be presented within the slots 5 as may be desired by the players.

As a variation of the simple method of play described above, I haveprovided means whereby, after a first rotation of drum I has produced aparticular combination of playing elements, I may retain certain ones ofthe playing elements I4 in their respective slots 5 while dischargingthe undesired ones and replacing them with new playing elements toproduce a variation of the first combination, all of these steps takingplace during a second rotation of drum I. Increased interest may thus beprovided in the game. In combination with this varied method of play Ihave also provided automatic means for opening all of the slots 5 anddischarging their contained playing elements I4 upon completion of thesaid second rotation of drum I, thus automatically preventing the returnof the identical varied combination without a re-shuffling of all of theplaying elements.

Means for effecting these variations and for accomplishing the aforesaidautomatic features comprise a series of retaining plates or gates I6,one for each individual slot 5, which may be individually raised inposition to close the respective slots 5 by the action of acorresponding series of bell cranks I'I operating through pins I8 andcontrolled by means of a series of push buttons I 9. When said buttonsI9 are pulled outward, they will cause their respective plates I6 tomove upward closing their respective slots 5 andthus retain playingelements I4 contained within said respective slots 5. When buttons I9are pushed in, their normal position at the beginning of the game, theplates I6 will be in the lowered position permitting playing elements I4to be received within or discharged from slots 5 as the case may be. Ashifting arm 29 is mounted at the left of drum I on a fulcrum pin 2Ieach of the segments of said shifting arm 20 being adapted. to movebackwards or forwards along a line parallel to the horizontal axis ofdrum I. The upper segment of shifting arm 20 is attached at its upperextremity to an element designated as expelling bar 22 which contains aseries of parallel slots 23 extending at right angles across the lowerside of expelling bar 22. The portions of the underside of expelling bar22 between the slots 23, designated interim portions 24, have surfaceswhich slope downwardly in the direction of rotation of drum I and whichare designed to clear buttons I9 only when the buttons I9 are in the inposition. When buttons I9 are in the out" position the interim portions24 due to their sloping surfaces are designed to push such buttons backinto the in position. Expelling bar 22 is adapted to be reciprocatedback and forth in a line parallel to the horizontal axis of drum I bythe corresponding action of the upper segment of shifting arm 20 and isfitted into bearings 25a and 25b, suitably supported by casing 4 topermit of its more facile movement. A shifting bar 26, moving inbearings 21a and 21b, suitably sup ported by casing 4 is located beneaththe low point of drum I and is attached at its left end to the lowersegment of shifting arm 20 by the movement of which, shifting bar 26 maybe reciprocated in bearings 21a and 2127 along a line parallel to thehorizontal axis of drum I. A series of slots 28 are cut in the uppersurface of shifting bar 26 and angle across the surface of shifting bar26 from left to right in the direction of rotation of drum I. Whenbuttons I9 are in the in position the location of shifting bar 26 withrespect to drum I is such that all of buttons I9 will completely clearshifting bar 26. When buttons I9 are in the out position, they will passthrough the openings in slots 28 and because of the angle of the slots28, will bear against the left hand side of said slots 28 andautomatically force shifting bar 26 to the left, which will, in turn,move the lower segment of shifting arm 20 to the left and this actionwill in turn move the upper segment of shifting arm 20 to the right,automatically moving expelling bar 22 to the right. The significance ofthese actions will be more fully explained hereinafter. A clearing lug29 is mounted on the left side of drum I at a point on its surface tothe rear of push buttons I9, the direction of rotation of drum I beingconsidered forward. Clearing lug 29 has a backwardly slanting facecomplementary to the face of a second clearing lug 30 mounted on theupper segment of shifting arm 20. The relative positions of clearinglugs 29 and 30 when shifting arm 20 is in the initial playing positionand when lug 29 has, through partial rotation of drum I, reached aposition opposite lug 30 are shown in Fig. 1, lug 29 being shown dotted.The part played by these lugs 29 and 30 in the operation of the gameapparatus will also be more fully explained hereinafter.

A complete game may be played as follows: Push buttons I9 are pushedinto the in position lowering plates I6, leaving slots 5 free to expelplaying elements I4 which may remain therein from a previous game, andto receive new elements I4. Rod I2 is withdrawn to clear stop II topermit rotation of drum I which is then set in motion by manipulation ofhandle 8. At the initiation of the game shifting arm 20 is in thevertical or normal position and expelling bar 22 and shifting bar 26 arein positions such that slots 23 and 28 are in register with buttons I9.When slots 5 containing playing elements I4 reach the high point ofrotation of drum I, any

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contained playing elements I4 will be discharged from slots 5-sincethere is at this time nothing to hold them therein, and as rotation 'ofdrum I proceeds to the low point thereof, new playing elements I4, whichin the meantime have been thoroughly shuflled by rotation of drum I andaction of battles I5, will fall into the various slots 5 and upon returnof slots 5 to the horizontal or visible position, thus completing thefirst complete rotation of drum I, drum I being stopped at'this point bycooperation of rod I2 with stop II, a first combination of playingelements will be visible to the players and this combination noted. ,Ifit is now desired to vary this said first combination by retainingcertain desired ones of the playing elements I4 in their respectiveslots 5 while replacing the remainder of the playing elements I4 withnew playing elements from the major group thereof in the interior ofdrum I, the following manipulations are effected. If, for example, thefirst combination is that illustrated in Fig. 1, and it is desired toretain the playing elements I 4a. and Nb in their respective slots, 5aand 51)' while replacing the other playing elements with new ones, pushbuttons I91; and I9b. are pulled out thus closing slots 5a and 5b withtheir respective plates. I6. Rod I2 is again withdrawn from engagementwith stop II and handle 8 is again pulled to begin a second rotation ofdrum I. As the slots 5 rotate toward the high point of rotation of drumI, the unobstructed ones of these slots 5 will discharge theircontents-into the interior of drum I to be mixed with the'main group ofplaying elements I4 being thoroughly agitated therein. As the slots 23in expelling bar 22 are still in register with buttons I9 those buttonsI9 which are now in the out position will pass therethrough without.hindrance and will proceed in clockwise rotation with drum I. As slots5 reach the low point of rotation of drum I, new elements I4 will fallinto those of the slots 5 which have just been vacated in the describedmanner. All of the slots 5 containing the varied combination of playingelements I I thus obtained, proceed with the rotation of drum I towardthe horizontal, visible position. Buttons I9a and I9b, which followslots 5 and are now in the outposition engage angling slots-28, whilethe remainderof buttons I9 clear shifting bar 25. Buttons I9a and I9bbear against the left hand side of slots 28 and force shifting bar 29 tothe left, which then forces the lower segment of shifting arm 29 to theleft and this action reacts to move the upper segment of shifting arm 29to the right and correspondingly moves expelling bar 22 to the right andslots 23' out of register with all of buttons I9. Rotation of drum Iproceeds until rod I2 again engages stop II and brings drum I to a stopwith slots 5 and the new combination of playing elements I4; in thevisible or reading position, where the new combination is read and notedby the players. The above series of operations ,not only complete thatparticular game but also place the mechanism in such condition as toautomatically clear the machine in the initial stages of the next game,in order that the last combination appearing in the reading position maynot be returned unchanged to the reading position.

The clearing operation is automatically effected as follows: As notedabove when the new combination has reached the reading position, ex-.

pelling bar 22'will have been pushed to the right through cooperation ofshifting bar 26 with shifting arm 20 as. above described and slots 23will be out of register with buttons I9. Buttons I9a and I91) will stillbe in the out position As the new game begins, rod I2 is again pulledtemporarily out of engagement with stop II, handle 8 is againmanipulated to start .a new rotation of drum I and slots 5 with the lastcontained combination of playing elements I l begin rotation toward thehigh point of rotation. Sinceslots 23 are now out of register withbuttons I9 they will be forced to pass under interimportions 24 ofexpelling bar 22. As stated above, these interim portions 24 slopedownward in the direction of rotation of drum I, and will not permitclearance of buttons I9 when in the "out position, in this case buttonsI9a and I9b. The sloping face of interim portions 24 will thereforedepress buttons I9a and I9!) into the in position as the rotation ofdrum I carries them under expelling bar 22, and as a result of thisaction slots 5a and 5b are opened and playing elements I la and Nb willbe expelled by gravity from slots 5a. and 51) along with the remainderof the playing elements I4 which had not been previously held in theirrespectiveslots 5. When buttons I9 have passed expelling bar 22,clearing lug 29 which is following closely thereafter, now strikesclearing lug 30, which, due to the right-ward position of the uppersegment of shifting arm 29, is in position to be contacted by clearinglug 29. The slanting face of clearing lug 29 striking that of clearinglug 39, forces the upper segment of shifting arm back to the left andthus pulls expelling bar back to the left into position where slots 23will be in register with buttons I9 during the succeeding rotation ofdrum I. The action of shifting arm .29 will, of course, at the same timemove its lower segment to the right and pull shifting bar 26 to .theright putting the openings of slots 28 again in register with buttonsvI9, prior to the time buttons I9 reach this point in the rotation ofdrum I. As a result of these operations all of the slots 5 will havebeen emptied of the previously contained playing elements I4, so that bythe time slots 5 will have reached the lowpoint of rotation they mayreceive an entirely new combination of playing elements I4, all of whichhave in the meantime been subjected to shufiling and agitation withindrum I. The slots 5 containing the new combination of playing elementsI4 will then continue their passage to the reading position. Since allof the buttons I9 are now in the in position they will all clearshifting bar 26 and will thus not alter the position of this bar andconsequently effect no change in the position of expelling bar 22. Whenslots 5 containing the new combination, will have again reached thereading position, the previously described operations for obtaining analtered combination of playing elements may then be again proceededwith.

It will thus be evident that my invention provides a game apparatuswhich provides substitutes for standard playing cards; means foroffecting thorough shuiiling of said substitutes at proper intervals toenable presentation of combinations of card equivalents more nearly infor clearing the machine automatically of previously presentedcombinations to place the apparatus in condition for playing an entirelynew game, and preventing the return of identical combinations of playingelements in the same game.

If it is desired to set shifting bar 26 and ex pelling bar 22, manually,in either the clearing or non-clearing positions, a manually operatedsetting handle 3| is provided in connection with the upper end of theupper segment of shifting arm 20.

Drum I may be constructed of any material suitable for resisting wearand tear resulting from the operation thereof. It may be constructed oftransparent materials throughout or only partially of such materials andthe interior thereof may be lined with wear resisting or shock resistingmaterial such as rubber or felt.

As noted above the manipulation of handle 8 may be coin-controlled ifdesired and may be operated in combination with merchandise dispensingfeatures as is commonly done in the art. The game features abovedescribed being utilized to give amusement to purchasers of suchmerchandise while effecting their purchases. No claim is made to suchmerchandising features or to the coin-control features per se; as suchfeatures are well known to those skilled in the art. It will beunderstood that while I have illustrated an apparatus useful in playinga game in which combinations of five playing elements are utilized it isequally adaptable to playing games in which other combinations ofplaying elements may be used. Instead of using playing elements markedto correspond with standard playing cards, such playing elements may bemarked with any other type of figure or with numbers.

It will be understood that I do not intend to be limited in claiming myinvention to the specific modification above described but desire toclaim all variations thereof which come within the scope of the appendedclaims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A game apparatus comprising a rotatable housing, a quantity ofplaying elements contained therein, a series of pockets in said housingadapted to receive some of said elements and to present same visibly tothe view of an observer in a first rotation of said housing, means forretaining desired ones of said elements in said pockets during a secondrotation of said housing while permitting undesired ones of said playingelements to be expelled from said pockets and to be replaced bydifferent ones of said playing elements from said quantity to therebyproduce an at least partially new combination of said playing elementsand to present same visibly to the View of said observer, meansthereafter for releasing said retained playing elements and forpreventing the return of said new combination for View a second time inthe course of a single game, and means for rotating said housing.

2. A game apparatus comprising a rotatable housing, means for rotatingsaid housing, a quantity of playing elements contained within saidhousing, the number of said playing elements equalling the number ofcards in a standard deck of whist playing cards, said elements beingindividually marked to correspond each with a different one of the cardsof said deck, a series of pockets in said housing each of which isadapted to receive a single one of said playing elements and to presentsame visibly to the view of an observer, manually controlled means forretaining desired ones of said elements within their respective pocketsduring rotation of said housing while undesired ones of said elementsare being expelled from their respective pockets and are being replacedby new playing elements from said quantity, and means co-operating withsaid retaining means to thereafter permit expulsion of said desiredelements together with said new elements to thereby place said apparatusin condition for a new game.

3. A game apparatus comprising a rotatable housing, means for rotatingsaid housing, a quantity of playing elements contained within saidhousing, a series of pockets in said housing adapted to receive some ofsaid playing elements and to present them visibly to the view of an observer, means for closing said pockets to permit retention of theircontained playing elements during a first rotation of said housing andmeans co-operating with said closing means for opening said pocketsduring a second rotation of said housing.

4. In an apparatus of the character described a tumbling cage providedwith a series of stalls visible from the exterior of the cage, amultiplicity of playing elements contained within the cage and adaptedto enter or leave the stalls, the elements being marked to simulate thecards of a deck of playing cards, means for setting the cage in motion,means for halting the cage in such a position as to render the playingelements occupying the stalls, visible to an observer, means forretaining the playing elements in the stalls including operating membersprojecting from the cage, and means arranged exteriorly of the cage formoving said members as the cage travels in its orbit of movement.

5. In a device of the character described, a rotatable drum having aperipheral pocket divided into a number of stalls visible from theexterior of the drum, playing elements arranged in the drum and adaptedto fall into or out of the stalls due to rotation of the drum, manuallycontrolled means for retaining playing elements within selected one ofthe stalls, the last mentioned means including members projecting fromthe periphery of the drum, and means arranged in the path of movement ofthe drum for actuating said members during a revolution of the drum torelease the selected playing elements from the stalls which they occupy.

6. In a device of the character described, a rotatable drum having aperipheral pocket divided into a number of stalls visible from theexterior of the drum, playing elements arranged in the drum and adaptedto fall into or out of the stalls due to rotation of the drum, manuallycontrolled means for retaining playing elements within selected one ofthe stalls, the last mentioned means including members projecting fromthe periphery of the drum, means arranged in the path of movement of thedrum for actuating said members during a revolution of the drum torelease the selected playing elements from the stalls which they occupy.and "automatic means actuated by the drum for moving the last mentionedmeans out of the path of movement of said members.

7. In a device of the character described a rotatable drum provided witha peripheral pocket divided into adjacent stalls visible from theexterior of the drum, playing elements contained within the drum andadapted to move into and out of said stalls due to rotation of the drum,gates associated with the stalls for temporarily to allow the passage ofretaining selected playing elements within certain stalls, manuallyoperated members for closing said gates, said members projecting fromthe periphery of the drum, an expelling bar having spaced inclinedportions for actuating said members to open the gates when the bar isinone position and the drum is rotated, the spaces between the inclinedportions of the bar being suficiently wide said members when the bar isin another position, and means actuated by said members for shiftingsaid bar in one direction.

8. In a device of the character described a 1'0- tatable drum providedwith a peripheral pocket divided into adjacent stalls visible from theexterior of the drum, playing elements contained within the drum andadapted to move into and out of said stalls due to rotation of the drum,gates associated with the stalls for temporarily retaining selectedplaying elements within certain stalls, manually operated members forclosing said gates, said members projecting from the periphery of thedrum, an expelling bar having spaced inclined portions for actuatingsaid members to open the gates when the bar is in one position and thedrum is rotated, the spaces between the inclined portions of the barbeing suffioiently wide to allow the passage of said members when thebar is in another position, means actuated by said members for shiftingsaid bar in one direction, and means actuated by the drum for shiftingthe bar in the opposite direction.

9. In a device of the character described a rotatable drum provided witha peripheral pocket divided into adjacent stalls visible from theexterior oi the drum, playing elements contained within the drum andadapted to move into and out of said stalls due to rotation of the drum,gates associated with the stalls for temporarily retaining selectedplaying elements within certain stalls, manually operated members forclosing said gates, said members projecting from the periphery of thedrum, an expelling bar having spaced inclined portions for actuatingsaid members to open the gates when the bar is in one position and thedrum is rotated, the spaces between the inclined portions of the barbeing sufficiently wide to allow the passage of said members when thebar is in another position, means actuated by said members for shiftingsaid bar in one direction, and manually operated means for shifting thebar in either direction.

10. In a device of the character described, a rotatable drum having aperipheral pocket divided into a number of stalls visible from theexterior of the drum, playing elements arranged in the drum and adaptedto move into or out of the stalls due to rotation of the drum, saidplaying elements being marked to simulate the cards of a playing deck, agate associated with each stall for retaining a playing element withinthe stall, manually operated means including push buttons for closingsaid gates, an expelling bar arranged parallel to the axis of the drum'and having spaced inclined portions adapted to occupy positions in thepath of movement of the push buttons while the latter are in projectedpositions, for depressing said buttons, the spaces between the inclinedportions of the bar being sufficiently wide to permit the push buttonsto pass between said portions whenthe bar is in one position, a secondbar arranged parallel to the axis of the drum at a positionsubstantially diametrically opposite to that of the first mentioned bar,a pivotally mounted lever operably connected to the bars for shiftingthem simultaneously in opposite directions, the second bar havinginclined grooves adapted to receive said push buttons when the latterare projected for automatically shifting the second bar whereby thefirst mentioned bar is moved to a position in which the spaces of thefirst mentioned bar register with the positions of the push buttons.

11. In a device of the character described, a rotatable drum having aperipheral pocket divided into a number of stalls visible from theexterior of the drum, playing elements arranged in the drum and adaptedto move into or out of the stalls due to rotation of the drum, saidplaying elements being marked to simulate the cards of a playing deck, agate associated with each stall for retaining a playing element withinthe stall, manually operated means including push buttons for closingsaid gates, an expelling bar arranged parallel to the axis of the drumand having spaced inclined portions adapted to occupy positions in thepath of movement of the push buttons while the latter are in projectedpositions, for depressing said buttons, the spaces between the inclinedportions of the bar being sufficiently wide to permit the push buttonsto pass between said portions when the bar is in one position, a secondbar arranged parallel to the axis of the drum at a positionsubstantially diametrically opposite to that of the first mentioned bar,a pivotally mounted lever operably connected to the bars for shiftingthem simultaneously in opposite directions, the second bar havinginclined grooves adapted to receive said push buttons when the latterare projected for automatically shifting the second bar whereby thefirst mentioned bar is moved to a position in which the spaces of thefirst mentioned bar register with the positions of the push buttons, andmeans actuated by the drum and engageable with the lever for shiftingthe bars in certain directions.

12. A game apparatus comprising a rotatable drum, a quantity of playingelements loosely contained therein, said playing elements beingindividually marked with characteristic markings, a series of pockets inthe peripheral portion of said drum arranged parallel to the axis ofrotation of the drum, all of the pockets communicating with the interiorof the drum so that any one of the playing elements can enter any one ofthe pockets, said pockets being visible from the exterior of the drum,means for retaining an element in any of the pockets independently of anelement in any other one of the pockets, manually actuated membersarranged exteriorly of the drum for controlling the last mentionedmeans, and means for rotating the drum. 13. A game apparatus comprisinga rotatable drum, a quantity of playing elements contained in the drum,said elements being substantially equal in number to the number of cardsin a standard deck of whist playing cards, said elements having planesurfaces individually marked to correspond each with a difierent one ofsaid cards, a series of visible pockets in the peripheral portion of thedrum arranged parallel to the axis of rotation of the latter andcommunicating with the interior of the drum to allow any one of theplaying elements to enter any one of the pockets, manually controlledmeans for retaining any one of the elements within a pocketindependently of an element in any other one of the pockets, and meansfor rotating said drum.

JAMES A. BRACEWELL.

